Need a miter saw for a large jobsite project, would you buy a Kapex?

I really like my Kapex. Why not get one and try it on your trim project? Take it back if you don't find it superior to anything else you've used.
 
Kapex and UG stand is the way to go and then sell it. Not a professional but have been using mine on all types of projects and it saves me time. I have the UG wings calibrated to my tape measure and never have to waste time marking my pieces probably the best video series on how to be efficient
 
I wouldn't hesitate on a KAPEX, though in my market they're 240V and there have been very few issues reported involving 240V machines.

As stated by some others, the flexibility and portability of the KAPEX on the UG stand with the extensions is hard to beat [wink]
 
Short answer No. unless you absolutely need the great dust collection of the kapex, buy another miter saw. And yes I own a kapex, but my Bosch 12" slider is a superior saw.
 
Joe Jensen said:
I'm a serious hobbyist furniture maker with a full workshop including a large sliding table saw.  I use a Dewalt 14" radial arm saw as my cut off station.  I don't currently own a miter saw.  I put all new base and casings in the current house and I just bought a dewalt 14" compound miter saw, used it, and then sold on Craig's list.  Net cost was about $40.  We bought a new house and I will be installing A LOT of wainscotting.  Maybe 250 linear feet.  It will be MDF and moldings.  I will rip all the parts to width in the shop which is just a mile away and I will be able to cut a ton of stuff in the shop, but I need a sliding compound miter saw.  And, I hate how loud and coarse most sound.

The Kapex is compelling as it's compact, relatively light weight with nice accessories.  But there have been so many issues reported.  Would you spring for a Kapex?  I have three daughters who will be buying houses over the next few years and expect to be working a lot on them so long term I will need a miter saw.
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Go for it - you will not be disappointed. Your situation is similar to mine a few years ago when I bought my Kapex. My then aging Dewalt RAS was on the way out and I spent 3 months looking at a replacement. Despite, at that time, it being the most expensive SCMS on the market it won the debate hands down.

I have not looked back and now cut mainly hard wood (oak, elm and mahogany), some man made board pieces but also copper, brass and aluminium.

The KS120 was my first Festool purchase and was what really got me into my subsequent purchases.

Peter
 
Master Carpenter said:
Short answer No. unless you absolutely need the great dust collection of the kapex, buy another miter saw. And yes I own a kapex, but my Bosch 12" slider is a superior saw.
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The Kapex is the best designed Miter Saw but it’s reliability issues have made it a bit of dice roll unless your business can write off the cost of purchasing a Kapex over 3-years. 

Makita has done a lot of great things with their miter saw that make it a compelling Kapex alternative for anyone doing trim work.
 
Hard to say.  They have acknowledged there was a problem (hint, hint) and have said they are adjusting manufacturing but......................................

There are still a lot of saws mis-aligned out in the market.  So it's quite possible you get one that needs adjustment.  Might be a while before we can tell if the prob. was really fixed or just lip service.

The good news is the issue can be fixed relatively easily out in the field.  I haven't heard any reports on whether the battery version suffers from the problem.
 
antss said:
Hard to say.  They have acknowledged there was a problem (hint, hint) and have said they are adjusting manufacturing but......................................

There are still a lot of saws mis-aligned out in the market.  So it's quite possible you get one that needs adjustment.  Might be a while before we can tell if the prob. was really fixed or just lip service.

The good news is the issue can be fixed relatively easily out in the field.  I haven't heard any reports on whether the battery version suffers from the problem.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, if it's just an assembly whoopsie that needs re-alignment vs a permanent defect, I may not even be concerned.

I haven't cut anything with one, but I've manhandled the corded and cordless versions on display...back and forth between others and the Kapex.  The only real dealbreaker for me is that only the Kapex has the nicely visible bevel readout (which one would think everyone else would be doing) and that the new Makita's fences have to be removed and then tossed into the bin.  Otherwise, it's really nice.
 
Unless you do a lot of compound miters the bevel readout is not that important.
As a remodeler I use that function maybe 10% of the time.
 
I do a lot of mitre and bevel cuts and accuracy is really important for me.

If I am starting a new "heirloom" piece (as I am doing right now) I give the Kapex a quick check to make sure that it is spot on. I have only had to adjust it about 3 or 4 times in the 6 years that I have had it. For bevel checking I use an Angle Cube from iGaging. I set it at zero on the saw bed and then attach it to the saw blade as I alter the bevel angle. I have never had to make an adjustment to the bevel stops. My 4 adjustments have all been to the mitre setting and have taken just a couple of minutes.

Peter
 
Getmaverick said:
Unless you do a lot of compound miters the bevel readout is not that important.
As a remodeler I use that function maybe 10% of the time.
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Solid point. 
 
Reports on the battery powered Makita have been overwhelmingly positive. I suspect it was an assembly issue. I have; as of yet, taken the time to adjust my corded model.  Instead, for sliding miters/bevels I grab the Kapex from the van. Overall, I prefer the Makita for daily use. Been using Kapex since late 2015. Most accurate saw ever, but hate the handle/safety switch and the constant grabbing/flinging offcuts (which is an absolute no-no when I'm in at final running shoe, cabinet base, etc)
Also, there is a 12" Makita version slated for early 2018 release. I'd buy a second battery version, if I knew Makita was going to offer an ac adaptor.
 
I have a Kapex and would buy one again.  It was noted above by others that the bevel adjustment was a selling point.  It was also noted that for one poster that it was only helpful for compound miters.  Like that poster I rarely cut compound miters, BUT I do regularly cut wood that exceeds the height limitation of ANY mitersaw where you stand the workpiece upright against the fence and then try to cut a simple miter (just rotating the saw in the horizontal plane.)

The ability to cut inside and outside miters on 6" baseboard for example using the easy to use bevel gauge is a valid consideration in my mind.

Peter
 
Any base I do over 5 1/4 is usually 2 pieces. The Makita will cut 5 1/4 upright on the fence. As with any tool you need to determine your needs for it and purchase accordingly.
 
I'd buy a second battery version, if I knew Makita was going to offer an ac adaptor.
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It would seem a logical extension.  Greenlee's charger fits , but it's pretty anemic so I doubt it'll run a saw.  Los Gatos makes an AC adapter for Makita.  It's big and clunky though.
 
Peter Halle said:
I have a Kapex and would buy one again.  It was noted above by others that the bevel adjustment was a selling point.  It was also noted that for one poster that it was only helpful for compound miters.  Like that poster I rarely cut compound miters, BUT I do regularly cut wood that exceeds the height limitation of ANY mitersaw where you stand the workpiece upright against the fence and then try to cut a simple miter (just rotating the saw in the horizontal plane.)

The ability to cut inside and outside miters on 6" baseboard for example using the easy to use bevel gauge is a valid consideration in my mind.

Peter
Click to expand...

^ This

Took a minute to translate from trim carpenter speak to woodwork speak, but Peter hit the nail on the head when it comes to what my needs are.

If between the stop and ug extension and bevel the kapex can give me perfect
replicable cuts...out of the box...

 
I have never used a Kapex. I did recently purchase a Makita XSL06PT. I have one word for this saw "Butter".
This is what its like using it. Extremely smooth from start to finish, even with original blade.
I installed a mantel at my sisters and cut through 12/4 oak that was 10" wide with zero hesitation. All my miters have been dead on accurate. I cant imagine a Kapex would be a $1000.00 better.
 
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